. >> martha: what do you think about your senate colleagues, clair mccaskill, joe mansion who, have decided for their own election prospect, it is best for them not to be here. >> you know, if you are in a tough fight, you just want to focus your time back in the state. as good as the democratic convention can be, there is no substitute for being at home in your respective state, making the case to your voters. i respect both of their decisions, at the end of the day, we want them back in the united states senate. and they will be. >> martha: back to the issue of north carolina, specifically for just a moment, one of the things you hear about on the ground here is that the president's support for gay marriage has hurt him with some conservative, middle-of-the-road democrats here. what are your thoughts? >> i think this election will turn largely on the question of economic opportunity. the country on a verge of depression to a country in growth. the challenges of the middle class and you give tax cuts to middle class families, versus to the wealthiest in our country. a country in which you